There can’t be many wine farms on the main street of a town, and one of the longest main streets in the country too. Laborie Wine Farm is situated on the east facing slopes of the iconic Paarl mountain and reaches down the Paarl’s Main Road.

Candlewood Tree – Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus

The Estate is home to tracts of indigenous fynbos and the accompanying small wild life which lives on the edges of the vineyards. Wild Olives, Waboom Proteas and Candlewood Trees, Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus, so beloved of fruit eating birds.

The Laborie Méthode Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2011 was born of a Warm summer which was dryer than usual. This led to lower yields with smaller bunches and concentrated flavours.

KWV Viticulturist Marco Ventrella on the Laborie slopes

Hand harvested at dawn, the Chardonnay grapes were whole bunch pressed and the free run juice only was used to make up the final blend of the base wine. Half of the Chardonnay grapes underwent malolactic fermentation before the second bottling with a shot of sugar and a special yeast. Closed with a crown cork, the wine lies down and undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle which forces the carbon dioxide gas released to be forced back into the wine creating the tiniest of bubbles referred to in the glass as the mousse. The wine lies on the lees for three years before being disgorged, corked, muzzled and labelled.

Chardonnay Grapes ripening on the vine

It looks likeElegant label on a tradition Champagne shaped bottle. In the glass a pale golden yellow with myriad tiny bubbles rushing helter skelter to the rim where it forms a crown.

It tastes like
On entry, the wine is creamy, round, vibrantly bubbly and fills the palate. Citrus, green apple and marzipan notes follow in the crisp fresh ending, the flavour of which wanes gently.

Tracy Foulkes’s Crudité Platter with Sweet Potato Hummus

It’s good withDon’t keep this for a special occasion, use it as a mid-morning refresher to help you through the Sunday papers. Excellent as an aperitif to waken the appetite before a meal. One usually thinks of oysters, shellfish, smoked salmon, trout or angelfish. Tracy Foulkes of NoMU Foods has a great pre-dinner snack which is perfect with this wine, her Crudité Platter with Sweet Potato Hummus. Click here for her recipe.

Tracy Foulkes & husband & business partner, Paul Raphaely

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about

As a young aspiring chef, Michael laid a solid foundation for his career at the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London. Over the next 30 years he had a series of high profile hospitality management posts, was the Public Relations Manager for Boschendal and ran three successful restaurants in the Cape, one of which, Parks, featured in the national top 10 restaurants.

Michael is a family man, author and broadcaster.

A lifetime devoted to the promotion and appreciation of the South African wine and food industry has earned him many accolades, including the Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Eat Out Awards.

Michael continues to be prolific, informative and entertaining on his wine and food website, michaelolivier.co.za and on his wine site, wine4friends.co.zawhich sells specially chosen wine boxes.